Amaranth Crunch Bar

Are you looking for a guilt-free snack to curb your candy cravings? Look no further than this homemade crunch bar made with SIMPLi Regenerative Organic Certified® Amaranth .

Amaranth is a nutrient-dense ancient grain that has been cultivated for thousands of years. It's rich in protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, making it a great choice for anyone looking to incorporate healthy whole grains into their diet.

Not only is this homemade crunch bar a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth, it's also packed with nutrients from the amaranth. Plus, with SIMPLi Regenerative Organic Certified® Amaranth, you can feel good about supporting regenerative agriculture practices and farmers' livelihoods.

Ingredients

• 6-7 tbsp uncooked SIMPLi Regenerative Organic Certified® Amaranth 

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or pieces

• 1/4 cup creamy unsweetened almond butter (if nut-free, sub sunflower seed butter)

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

• 1 generous pinch SIMPLi Pink Finishing Salt

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.

2. To pop the amaranth, heat a skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Set a medium mixing bowl to the side for the popped amaranth. Once the pan is hot(give it 3-5 minutes to heat up), add 1 tbsp un-popped SIMPLi Regenerative Organic Certified® Amaranth  and immediately cover with a lid. Shake the pot back and forth over the heat to move the grains around. It should start popping within 1-3 seconds and be done popping at the 10-second mark (if it’s not, that means the pan isn’t hot enough). It's ok if not every grain has popped. Quickly empty into a separate bowl.

3. Continue until you have roughly 1 ¼ cup of popped grains.

4. Add 1 inch of water to a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Place a small glass or metal bowl over the saucepan and add the chocolate chips, almond butter, and coconut oil. Heat, stirring occasionally with a spatula or spoon, until smooth. You can also melt them in a heat-proof glass bowl in the microwave in 20-second increments.

5. Once melted, stir in the salt and vanilla and carefully remove from the heat.

6. Pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of popped amaranth and stir until evenly coated in the melted chocolate mixture.

7. Transfer to the parchment-lined loaf pan and refrigerate until set—about 1 hour. Then slice into bars.

8. Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for up to a month.

Next time your sweet cravings spike, grab a bite of these amaranth crunch bars. Your taste buds and your body will thank you!